PRETTY
ORIE
“Youadmittedthat you have been following him?” Orian gawks, following me around the store.
He’s been on that detail all morning. Imagine if he knew whatelseI admitted to Carson last night when I emerged from the shadows.
It wasn’t my plan to reveal myself last night, but that daydreamer had wandered so far off the path, I had no choice. I mean, what was he thinking about that had him totally zoned out?
Turning around, I stop walking and face Orian, who looks utterly bored. “You are here for training—to work for me—or have you forgotten?”
“Fine, fine.” Orian sighs, waving one hand for me to continue on.
As I open my mouth to continue explaining the products and how to help customers, my senses feel flooded.Carson is nearby, his proximity causing everything to turn on inside me.
Excitement. Worry. Suspicion.Attractionof all kinds, on all levels.
All swirling around and conflicting with one another, battling to be the primary emotion. My gaze gravitates to the front windows, and I suck in a small breath as I see who’s on the other side of the glass.
Carson—and he’s coming in here.
As the bell above the door dings, I whip my head back to Orian, blurting out loudly, “For sure, you can go on your break now.”
“Huh?” Brow raised, Orian’s lips curl downward. It’s not long before he realizes who’s walked in, shooting me a smirk.
Through slightly gritted teeth and a forced smile, I more sternly instruct him. “You asked to go on break, sogo on break.”
Much to my dismay, Orian turns toward Carson, plopping his hands onto his hips. “Carson, right? So cool to see you again.”
Oh, he issodead later.
“Nice to see you again too, Orian,” Carson greets, his eyes darting over to me. “Orie.”
Hearing my name roll off his tongue makes me hotter than the hells I came from. Now that I’ve admitted my attraction to him, it’s like I’ve opened a door that I can’t close. The things I ignored and stifled can no longer be contained.
“Hey.” What the fuck is the matter with me?I don’t think I’ve ever been so lame in my entire life. Is this what being a human is truly like?
Orian breaks the awkward silence I’ve created. “Nice bracelet, it matches Orie’s.”
I blink, and everything seems to slow down.
I look down at my bracelet. It’s amethyst. I look over at Carson’s bracelet.It’samethyst.
Oh my Gods, wedomatch.
Why does my heart feel…warm?
“We do,” Carson says in his chipper way, with maybe the sweetest smile I’ve ever seen plastered on his face.
“Socute.” Orian shakes his head and lets out a sigh that mocks dreaminess. “Well, I’m hungry. Break time for me.”
Confirmed, he is definitely dead later.
He walks off, leaving Carson and I alone. It’s as if I can feel my heartbeat in every part of my body, and my tail moves involuntarily behind me.
“Who’s stalking whom now?” I raise a brow, trying to keep my emotions hidden beneath the surface.
He narrows his eyes, the smile still on his face. “I won’t report you if you don’t report me.”
